Easter Weekend

We had a jam packed Easter weekend. Austin got to bake cookies and dye eggs with Bee, Pop, Aunt Mary, Unc, and Kate. She loved it!

Austin also got to do two Easter egg hunts!

 The best group shot I managed.

Austin really enjoyed her Easter. Thank you to everyone that contributed!

Well Overdue

I am well aware of how long it has been since my last post. I have not been the most frequent poster in times past, but this is a real lag. There has been a lot that has happened between the last post and now, the most important being that Ray has returned home. Initially, it was not the easiest. Austin had a real adjustment that put a lot of stress on Ray and I. Now she is loving every second of having both of us around. Ray returns to work this Friday, and though we have really enjoyed his time home, it will return us back to true normalcy. We will have to adapt to a new routine, once again, but if anything it is back to the way things were.

In terms of Austin, she is a precocious talker, socialite, busy, sweet little girl. She comes filled with hugs and kisses for everyone and is always willing to share. At the same time, she continues to be a little girl with a lot to say, and never hesitates to speak her mind. I think sassy sums it up! We love watching her tell the dog what she really thinks!

This might be picture overload, but I wanted to post some highlights over the last few months.

Austin "helping" me wrap presents.

Taking in the Christmas tree with daddy.

Enjoying her new Elmo book.

Pushing her new baby around in her new stroller from the Georges.

Rocking her baby in her chair.

Hanging on Na-lee, whom we all know she adores.

And pestering Danny, like we all know she loves to do!

Hugging her new new Elmo toy, which she dances to every day.

We have taken advantage of our warm winter and taken her to the playground.

Ray and I were lucky enough to enjoy the Ravens playoff game against the Texans with friends Matt & Alex.

Austin loves driving trucks...

and wearing pretty shoes while carrying around a purse and lipstick, and wear sunglasses.

Austin loves to point out body parts. This is "ears".

Oh, and we have Austin doing chores. She feeds the dog every morning and night.

 She helps us do dishes.

Lastly, she helps us "make" dinner.

Make note of the flour all over her face and the chair.

I will do my best to stay on top of things in the future. 

Come on winter!

I am really looking forward to winter. This year, for a different reason. It means the return of Ray. Don't ask us when, because we still do not know, despite what President Obama said. Everything is still up in the air. But we are nearing the end, and I remind myself that every day, cause I am beyond ready.

In the mean time, we have been keeping ourselves very busy. There has been a wedding, school, football,     Halloween, and everything in between.

Flowers Ray sent me for my birthday. Thank you Ray!

Austin watching people outside.

She has claimed this as her chair these days!

My wedding date (thanks Patrick).

Ripken & Austin love to sit outside in deck chairs together.

Go Flacco!

Happy Halloween!

Sitting with Hayden.

Ripken watched the kids come and go.

On another note, Austin is getting smarter every day. She throws her hands up and says "touchdown" whenever she hears us speak the word. She even does that for her dad on skype. When she watches football she yells at the tv like I do, and I mean YELLS! Ray will love it when he gets to see it in person. She learns a new word and a new sign almost every day. She even signs to me that she is tired, which I love. She goes to bed with the greatest of ease, but is still fighting me every day with naps. When we go to the store and her eye catches a Christmas display, so goes nuts. Austin will sit and chat about the lights and trees for 5 straight minutes with the biggest smile on her face. She loves Elmo, and we cannot get pass an Elmo product without her getting excited. In church the other day she kept running up the center aisle the whole time to sit on the bottom step next to the piggy bank. Every time she sat next to it she would start snorting like a pig. Luckily we go to a church that is very welcoming of children. She also loves dancing to the church music, which I find so amusing. Austin still squeezes pictures of her dad tight, and blows him kisses every time she says goodbye to him on skype.

So, Happy Fall to all! I hope everyone is enjoying it as much as we are. Next up, WINTER! :)

Determination

I am amazed by my daughter. I never realized the endless determination a child holds at such a young age. Every time her attempts at something new are met with failure, she gets back up and tries again. Not always immediately, not always with a smile, but she is determined to get the job done. The pride she takes in herself when she accomplishes what she set out to accomplish is so rewarding, both for her and I. Nothing fills me with warmth quite like her smile does.

I realized that this sense of determination is something that Ray and I need to foster. Will Austin meet failure? Yes of course. Will she feel defeat from this failure? Sure. The fact of the matter is she will be her own worst enemy. So a true test for us as parents is to make sure that we always support and console her in those moments of defeat, but remind her that she is capable of accomplishing whatever she wants. She will always have a support system in us as she grows up and ventures out to explore the world. So Austin, the world is yours! Go get it! :)

Determined to:

Disassemble the fridge...

Eat with her fork...

Walk in her new shoes...

Sit in her wagon...

Give Ripken a hug...

Play with Hayden...

Relax and watch Sesame...

Talk to Daddy...

Show daddy her favorite monkey...

Eat with my fork...

Empty the tupperware lid drawer...

and do things all on her own!

As I see this characteristic in my daughter, I hope to pull from it and restore my determination to get through these last few months of Ray being gone. I must say, I am not as determined and motivated as normal with things like school. Maybe I feel a little defeated by this experience. I think it is time for some rejuvenation, but I am determined to get through these classes and do well, and before we know it, rejuvenation will be here. Ray will be home!